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Letter to Augusta: Keep Colt in 2008 tournament

Sunday September 16, 2007 | 21:39:38 262 words, 2242 views
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As speculators speculate that Colt Knost will make a formal announcement of his professional aspirations this week, I am hoping for two things. The first is that he shows up at Turning Stone for the Turning Stone Championship, as my sorry behind will be there with media credentials. The second is that Augusta National grant him his place in the 2008 Masters, in spite of being a professional.

Let’s be honest. The spirit of the amateur at The Masters ended when Walker Cup slots for USA and GBI were rescinded. Heck, there was a time when even the alternates received invitations. Even members of the World Amateur Team from the USA lost their slots. Now, in a perfect year, only five amateurs make it in: champions of the USGA Mid-Am, PubLinks and Am championships, the British Amateur, and the runner-up to the USGA Am champ. Sure, the Masters intelligentsia will argue that anyone in the top 24 from the previous year will also be back, but the odds of that are one in a Kuchar, or one in a Wittenberg.

So, if anyone with a liberal thought, among the members of The National, is listening, hear my plea: consider giving young players the exemption they earn as amateurs, whether they remain amateurs or not; or, if amateur presence at the invitational is important, consider returning invitations to Walker Cup teams and the USA World Amateur team. I’m in favor of the amateur presence, but I hate to see a guy like Colt lose what he has earned over a decision he has to make.

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Comments:

Comment from: Oliver Sudden [Visitor] Email
I agree with you about more amateurs in the masters. I remember Billy Joe Patton. But Colt won't be there if he turns pro, that I guarantee, unless he is a spectator.
You said you will be at the Turning Point with media credentials. Maybe the best story on the PGA Tour this year is George McNeill from Fort Myers Florida. He was 100-1 to get through Q-school and another 100-1 to keep his card. He was selling golf balls at The Forest CC and couldn't stand it so decided to try to make a living playing. The 1st time I saw him was at the Beck's open held at the Fort Myers CC each year with about a $6,000 1st prize. I picked up Georges group on # 6 and he proceeded to birdie 6,7,8,9,11,12, and 13. Having seen a lot of tour golf I thought he had a lot of game. But the next few years produced little. Real rags to riches story.
Permalink 09/17/07 @ 18:08
Comment from: Todd Sentell [Visitor] Email · http://www.kunati.com/meet-todd-sentell/
Why do armchair golf geeks have hissey fits when elite-level amateurs make decisions that benefit their careers? Why so prissy about this ... so easily offended ... every time a young man ...God, forbid … wants to earn a living as quickly as possible with the skills he's developed?

Go complain ... and do something about ... slow play and golfers who don't fix their ball marks on greens. Items that we can do something about … when you’re not having your hissey fit.
Permalink 09/28/07 @ 11:14
Comment from: ronmon [Visitor] Email · http://mon
Todd.

Identify the armchair golf geek, please. I'd like to know who she/he is.

Thanks.
Mon
Permalink 09/28/07 @ 12:06
Comment from: Todd Sentell, author of Toonamint of Champions [Visitor] Email · http://www.kunati.com/meet-todd-sentell/
It's not you, Mon ... but your wanting to know who it is has distracted you from the whole point of my post.

Don't you hear this noise every time a young golfer wants to turn pro early? Why do folks freak out when this happens? Why would you plea to ANGC on his behalf? Do you know Colt personally?

Anyhow, sorry if I offended any armchair golf geeks out there. I'm sort of one of you ... but judging someone's personal decsion to turn professional is so smug.
Permalink 09/28/07 @ 13:16
Comment from: ronmon [Visitor] Email · http://mon
Todd,
it didn't necessarily distract me from the post; i simply desired to be all-in before commenting. I think it sucks that a player's economic status determines whether or not an exemption is to be honored. I think that issues such as slow play and unrepaired ball marks can only be resolved through violent means; most golfers do not think at all when they are on the course. Their golf time is their relaxation time, and they cannot be bothered to care about the welfare of others.
Permalink 09/28/07 @ 13:24

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